Toyota Camry accelerator causes fatal accident (Chilling 911 Call & skid marks)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.examiner.com/people-the-news-in-national/toyota-camry-accelerator-causes-fatal-accident-chilling-911-call-video

Utah – It was on Nov. 5, 2010, when Paul Vanalfen’s, accelerator either got caught on a floor mat or stuck when his 2008 Camry slammed into a rock wall in an isolated area of Western Utah.

The crash killed Vanalfen, 66-years-old, and passenger Charlene Lloyd. Vanalfen's wife, Shirlene, 61, and son, Cameron, 34, were treated and released for injuries at Salt Lake's University Hospital, said spokeswoman Cathy Wilets.

Police say they suspect the crash was attributed to the Toyota mandatory recall and repair to fix sticking accelerators.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received about 3,000 reports of sudden acceleration from Toyota drivers in the past decade, including 93 deaths.

911 call here: http://www.examiner.com/people-the-news-in-national/toyota-911-call-of-family-s-fatal-lexus-crash-video


And this on the same crash: Deadly Post-Recall Toyota Crash Blamed On Gas Pedal

http://jalopnik.com/5691216/deadly-post+recall-toyota-camry-crash-blamed-on-sticking-gas-pedal


A Utah man and his son's fiancee died earlier this month after his recalled Toyota Camry sped through an intersection into a rock wall. Police say the Camry's gas pedal stuck and, unlike other crashes, there's supporting evidence.

The crash on Nov. 5 killed Paul Van Alfen, 66, and his son's fiancee Charlene Lloyd, 38; Van Alfen's wife and son were also injured in the wreck. Unlike similar crashes in Toyotas later blamed on drivers mistaking the accelerator for the brake, police say Van Alfen's Camry left skid marks as it exited Interstate 80 near Wendover, Utah. presumably from holding down the brake pedal. The Utah Highway Patrol said Monday that based on statements from the passengers who survived, the Camry's gas pedal appeared stuck.

Van Alfen's Camry had been covered by three recalls relating to sudden acceleration problems, including floor mats and sticking pedals. While investigators believe Van Alfen had brought his Camry in for the repairs, it's not clear what fixes had been performed. Toyota has also said it was upgrading 2008 Camrys to include brake override systems designed to cut engine power if the brake and accelerator are pressed simultaneously; and once again, it's not clear whether that upgrade was performed.

Toyota released a statement late Monday saying conclusions shouldn't be rushed, noting the previous cases where crashes blamed on Toyota were later shown to be driver error. Given what Toyota had said since then about the reliability of its black boxes proving other cases were driver error and not Toyota's fault, the evidence of what happened in this crash should be readily available.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

1. i'm lucky to be alive...

this looks like my corolla. 2009. :cry: I walked away from the accident.

[Tatiana]

2. OMG! Angels were watching out for you.

:hug:

So glad that you walked away from that horrible accident.

How can Toyota get away from making such a defective and murdering product????

[Omaha Steve]

3. I too am glad you walked away

I thought there would be more replies to this post.

[MadMaddie]

4. He took the vehicle in for the recall

Whad did the repair company do? or not do?

I have always wondered how we can trust these companies?

May they RIP! To the survivors I send my wishes for recovery.

[tk2kewl]

5. cars should not do this...

but for the life of me i don't understand how people can make 911 calls while their cars are racing out of control but can't think to throw the gearshift into neutral or turn the key to the off position.